Hi Jarremachine,
I hope I can answer your questions and no, no offence will be taken by me!
I don't celebrate Chrismas or Easter, however I do aknowledge them. I feel it is important for my children to understand why these celebrations take place as we live in a Christian country In fact, I would hazard a guess and say that my kids probably know the Christian origins better than most of their peers!!
We celebrate the Sabbats, there are 8 a year, 4 Major and 4 Minor. These are as follows (with the significance taken from my Book of Shadows)
Yule (22-23rd December, Winter equinox)<--Chrismas equivalent!
Celebration of the Sun God, Born of the Goddess and God. Yule is the time of the greatest darkness and has the shortest days of the year. Fires and canles are lit (hence Yule log) to welcome the return of the Sun God, while the Goddess rests after her labour and delivery.
Imbolc (2nd Feb, Feast of Torches, Candlemas)
Marks the recovery of the Goddess as she sleeps and the maturity of the Sun God as he grows in strength to become the new light of the year. His light regenerates the earth, and though he is still young and lusty, his power can be felt in the lengthening days. His warmth fertilises the Earth and causes seeds to srout and new buds to form as Spring appears.
Ostara (21st March, Spring Equinox) <--- Easter equivalent!!
Celebrates the return of the Goddess. Warmed by the light of the sun, She wakes from her sleep and blankets the Earth with fertility. Days and nights become equal as light overtakes darkness. The God reaches maturity. He walks the fields and forests delighted with the abundance of light. He and the Goddess impell all creatures out of hibernation, to mate and reproduce.
Beltane (30th April, May eve)
Marks the courtship of the Goddess and God, the renewal of the ancient marriage of polarity. As the God emerges into manhood, he desired the Goddess and they fall in love. They unite and the Goddess becomes pregnant of the God.
Litha (21st June, Midsummer Solstice)
The beginning of summer, marking the longest days of the year. The god is in his prime and the powers of nature reach their highest point. The earth is awash with the fertility of the Goddess and God.
Lammas (August 1st, Feast of Bread
A celebration of the bounty bought to the earth by the Goddess and God. The time of first harvest as te pants of spring wither and die. They drop their fruits for our consumption and their seeds to ensure future harvest. The God begins to die as the light decreases and the nights draw in. The Goddess looks on in sorrow and watches the God dying, but with joy realises that he lives on inside her, her unborn child.
Mabon (21st Sept, Autumn Equinox)<--- Harvest Festival \equivalent!!!
Completes the harvest. The days and nights are equal. The God dies as King Of Harvest, and travels to the underworld to await his rebirth of the Goddess. Nature declines and drawws back its bounty for the winter and time of rest. The Goddess sees the weakenimg sun, and a fire burns within her womb as she feels the presence of the God. She prepars for her own journey into the Underworld, to search for him again.
Samhain (31st October, Feast of the Dead- Hallowe'en, Celtic and some northern traditions New Year)
A Farewell feast to the God, who as the King of the Hunt sacrificed himself as his animals are slaughtered to provide sustenance throughout the winter months. The Goddess begins her descent into the Underworld in search of the God.
And so the cycle of the Year begins.
Each Sabbat is marked with a ritual, which includes wine, a simple feast of whatever food is appropriate at the time (eg samhain would be apples, pomegranatesetc, Beltane would be Almond cakes and Marigold Custard- yummy!!). Our rituals aren't observed by all Pagans, the above are generally followed by those with Wiccan leanings and some Celtic origins.
It is very hard to escape Christmas in this country, the build up starts now and it is everywhere. Sadly though, the message is largely lost on the general public, and many people view it as a time to spend obscene amounts of cash on the latest fad.
I have spoken to many Christians that refuse to aknowledge that Christianity 'Borrowed' from Paganism, but the simple truth is that t did. When Christiaity was bought to these shores it had a HUGE Pagan following to compete with; whay better way to start than by absorbing some of the already established traditions to make it more palateable?
For example- There is NO evidence to suggest that Jesus was born on Dec the 25th, in fact there is some evidence that His birth may have been in September time.
Blimey, I just looked back at this post and it's reeeealy long- if you have any more questions I am more than happy to postulate- Religion is my favourite subject (aside from Soap, of course... )
Take care and Blessed Be )O(
The Soap Dragon xxx